At least seven Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli forces in Gaza, Palestinian medics have said, as protesters kicked off a planned six-week demonstration demanding the right of return for refugees.
Israel’s military said 17,000 Palestinians were “rioting” in six locations in the Gaza strip on Friday, rolling burning tires at the security fence and its troops, which it said were “responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators”.
Israeli forces enforce a no-go zone for Palestinians on land in Gaza close to the fence and regularly fire on frequent protests along the frontier when young Palestinian men hurl stones and firebombs.
But organisers said the “Great March of Return” demonstration intended to be peaceful, and would comprise of families of men, women, and children camping near the heavily fortified security fence. Cultural events, including traditional dabke dancing, are planned.
While protest camps within Gaza were set up a few hundred metres back from the barrier, large crowds marched on Friday towards the fence, and some people started throwing rocks.
Israel dismissed the entire demonstration as a Hamas ploy and its military prepared by deploying reinforcements around Gaza, including more than 100 special forces sharpshooters and paramilitary border police units.
“We are identifying attempts to carry out terror attacks under the camouflage of riots,” Maj Gen Eyal Zamir, commander of the Israeli military’s Southern Command, which includes the border, said on Friday.
Ahead of the protest the Israel Defence Force’s chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot told Hebrew-language media: “If there will be a danger to lives, we will authorise live fire. The orders are to use a lot of force.”
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